Cameroon

Cameroon is rich in natural resources and is a transportation hub for goods going to Chad and Central African Republic. However, very high levels of corruption, poor infrastructure and inefficient government create a difficult business environment that limits economic growth. The republic is dominated by a strong central government and a longstanding president, and human rights problems persist despite some improvement. Economic success has not sufficiently raised the health and education levels of the population: life expectancy, under-5 mortality and maternal mortality in Cameroon are worse than the regional average. The rate of HIV infection is over five percent – one of the highest in Central Africa. Although there are improvements to be made in educational enrollment, over three-quarters of the population is literate.

USAID programs in Cameroon focus on conserving key forest resources, making sustainable improvements to healthcare and fighting HIV/AIDS.